Home House & Components Appliances Refrigerator

Give old, yellowed handles a fresh, new look

Yellowed handles can make a refrigerator or other appliance look old before its time. Fix the problem easily with a spray paint designed for plastic surfaces.

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

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How to Paint a Refrigerator: Repainting Appliance Handles

Photo 1: Pop the caps and screws

Pry off the vanity caps that cover the side screws. Then open the fridge door and remove the other screws.

Photo 2: Apply the paint

Spray the sides of the handles before doing the flat surfaces. Allow the recommended “flash” time before applying additional coats. Let dry, flip them over and paint the other side.

The white refrigerator in your kitchen didn’t come with yellow handles, but they’re yellow now. Even after cleaning, they’ll still look pretty grungy against the bright white porcelain cabinet. New handles are pretty pricey, so why not just paint them? It’s easy and cheap. Buy a can of paint formulated to paint plastic (Rust-Oleum Specialty Paint for Plastic is one choice) at a home center. Then pick up a bottle of degreaser and a scrubbing pad.

Remove the handles (Photo 1). Then wash them with degreaser and hot water. Use a scrub pad on textured areas to remove the dirt. Pay particular attention to dirt in crevices. Then wipe the handles with a dry cloth and let them air-dry.

Mask off any emblems or chrome trim and paint the handles (Photo 2). Paint the vanity caps at the same time. Then reinstall the handles. You may have to repaint them in a few years. But in the meantime, they’ll look a lot better.

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

Originally Published: November 28, 2018